Tashkent: Saudi Arabia finished as the AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022 Group D winners with a 2-0 win over United Arab Emirates on Thursday.
After a goalless first 45 minutes at the Lokomotiv Stadium, Aiman Yahya and Saud Abdulhamid provided the goals as Saudi Arabia finished ahead of Japan, who beat Tajikistan 3-0, on goal difference.
The win sets Saudi Arabia up with an exciting quarter-final clash against Vietnam on Sunday, with Japan to play defending champions Korea Republic.
Having scored five past Tajikistan followed by a goalless stalemate with Japan, Saudi Arabia just needed a draw to advance to the quarter-finals, while victory was a must for UAE, who went into the tie on four points.
Saudi Arabia needed just two minutes to put UAE under pressure but Khalifah Al Dawsari failed to convert his half-volley from the top of the box off Abdulhamid’s corner.
Haitham Asiri then almost found a way through five minutes later when he skipped between the UAE defenders but his close-range effort was parried away for a corner by UAE keeper Suhail Abdulla.
(Source: AFC Media)
